Skulduggery pushed through the double doors and made his way straight to the, now empty, reception desk. Whilst doing so he checked for CCTV Cameras and flicked his hand. Suddenly, there was a burst of sparks from one of the cameras and he said quietly "Dear, Dear they should really be more careful. Water inside Electric's… someone might just…sneak in…" and with that he checked no-one was around leaned over the desk and looked at the TV's containing picture's of all the camera's. He checked to see where the guards were. He made a mental note of where he would have to take the more difficult route and, feeling confident, stepped through some more double doors into a pristine white corridor. There were doors lining this corridor, there were potted trees by each door and a painting on the other side. It was tasteful and elegant. Exactly the way Skulduggery liked things. He tried to think of what Valkyrie had said to him.

"I'll be 20 minutes, 30 tops. All I have to do is go in there ask Miss Thorpe these questions and be out again right?"

"Right" he had said in agreement.

"OK, I'll see you in a while then. Bye"

"Bye" he had replied, beginning to sink into the seat. He had watched Valkyrie look carefully each way then go through the doors and disappear from view.

He cursed himself for not persuading her to let him go with her. But even if she had she would have glared at him and probably hit him so he thought he ought to leave her to herself.

Nothing she'd said was about what floor Miss Thorpe was on. As he turned a corner he saw a sign with a list of names and floor and room numbers on it. He scanned the list.

Daniel Robinson Floor 2 Room 102

Marlene Guyton Floor 18 Room 316

Donna Thorpe Floor 31 Room -

Room -? What was that all about?

"Oh well…" Skulduggery thought. "At least I know where to find her…" and with that he headed for a slightly hidden sign saying stairs. He went through the doors and started leaping two at a time up the steps, just as the elevator came to a stop on the 31st floor.

******

Valkyrie was glancing sideways to the guard in the lift with her. He did not seem to be moving. She shifted her weight on to her other leg and he turned to her quite sharply. She backed away slightly and he glared at her. They were only 5 floors up and they still had another 26 floors to go. She thought of the damage he could do to her in that time. She started to work out strategies in her mind. She could go out through the top of the lift but the guard might notice that.

"Stupid idea!" she thought.

"Yes, it was" the guard said. Valkyrie turned.

"Pardon?"

"It was a rather stupid idea that one. Someone tried that before… let's just say that they no longer walk this earth… Look" he said " You seem really nice and all but…"

Valkyrie backed away into a corner as a fist came smashing down on her head and the world went black.